Fastener for mail and other bags.



E. J. HILLMAN.

PASTBNER FOR MAIL AND OTHER BAGS.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG. 11l 1910.

Patented 0011.8, 1912.

WMe/aow.' @Af Gunn-.vm PLANOORAPH cu..wAsMlNuTON. D. c.

. Umm@ sTATns APATENT ernten.;

EDWARD J'. HILLMAN, OF LOOKQUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE.

Y FASTENER Fon To all whom 'it 'may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. HILLMAN, a citizen ot' the United States,and a resident of Lookout Mountain, in the county of Hamilton, in theState of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFasteners for Mail and other Bags, of which the following is a full andclear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a bag provided with myimproved fastener, showing the same closed and locked; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal s-ectional view through the closing devices, in closedposition; and Figs. 3 and 4l detail perspective views of parts hereinatter described.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction whereby thefastening strap is permanently attached to the bag, thereby preventingits detachment from the bag except by cutting it, whereby greatconvenience in manipulating the device is obtained, as more fullyhereinafteraset forth.

In the drawing a designates the strap one end of which is permanentlyfastened to the outer surface of the bag near the top edge thereof by asuitable device, such as rivets l) which pass through the strap and thebag fabric, said strap being of suftieient length to surround the mouthof the bag when the same is extended and being also provided with aseries of eyeleted holes c for purposes of adjustment. The rivets b alsoclamp in place a metallic plate (l, inserted in the split end of thestrap, this plate being provided at its rear end with a pair of ears eand at its other end with a pair of ears f, said ears being turnedoutwardly so as to embrace the side edges of the free portion of thestrap when the same is threaded be tween the ears. The ears f areconnected by a flat plate g at a suitable distance in from their ends,forming between said plate g and the base plate Z a strap eye 7L.Projecting from the plate g mid-way its ends is a staple 2' and adaptedto engage over this staple is a hasp y', pivoted between the lugs e atthe other end of the base plate. The clasp 7' is provided at its hingedend .with an inwardly projecting pin 7c. A suitable number of keepers Zare fastened at intervals around the mouth of the bag to confine thestraps slidingly thereto, and the free end of the strap is convenientlyeonned to the side Specification off ietters Patent. Application ineaAiigsfirieio. serial No. 576,770. Y

I Mari. AND OTHER BAGS.

l Patented oct. 8,1912.

ot' the bag when the bag is closed and there is therefore a surplus ot'strap which would dangle if not conlined, by a suitable number otkeepersm attached to the bag at suitable points thereon. The extreme end of thestrap is provided with a stop n which however is not large enough toprevent the end o1 the strap being drawn freelyout of the keepers m.

It will be observed that the strap passes around the mouth of the bagthrough the keepers Z and that its free portion is extended through theeye h and along under the hasp j. After the strap is pulled tightly toclose the bag, the hasp y' is swung inwardly over the staple z', carebeing taken to see that the pin enters one of the eyeleted holes in thestrap; the bag may be then locked or closed by attaching to the staplez' a suitable padlock or other device.

It will be observed by reason of the employment ot' the eye or loop 71,and' the mounting ot the staple on the front wall thereof, it will beunnecessary to form slots in the strap for the passage of the staple andfurthermore the strap will be held securely and rigidly in place withoutundue strain upon the hasp and the base plate with its ears.

It will be observed also that with this construction the bag may beopened and closed without detaching either end ot' the strap from thebag. it being simply necessary in opening the bag to swing the hasp outof engagement with the strap and then draw its free end portion backthrough the loop z., its extreme end being prevented from being drawnout of the same by the stop n striking against the edges of the ears e.

It will thus be observed that by my device the strap will always be insuch a convenient position that the bag may be opened and closed andlocked with the utmost expedition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with a bag, of a strap having one end permanentlyattached to the bag and being long enough to entirely surround the mouthot the bag when the bag is open, means for slidingly confining the freeend of the strap to the bag at the point where it overlaps thepermanently fastened end, said means consisting of a plate carrying atone Cil end a closed eye having an outwardly projecting staple on itsrontWa-ll and at its other end a pvoted hasp, said hasp being providedwith a pin Which is adapted to enter holes n the strap, for the purposeset forth. y In testimony whereof I hereunto alx my sgnaturen thepreseueeoftwo .Wtuesses l this 1st day of August, 1910.

EDWARD J. HILLMAN.

Witnesses: y

S. BARTOW STRANG, CHAs. N. Fox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingti Commissioner of Patents, Washington, C.

